{{Infobox/Yu-Gi-Oh!/Episodeepisode| image name = DMx001 Triple Blue-Eyes.png| image caption = Yugi facing 3 "Blue-Eyes White Dragons".| english en_name = The Heart of the Cards| kanji ja_name = 戦慄のブルーアイズ・ホワイト・ドラゴン{{Ruby|戦|せん}}{{Ruby|慄|りつ}}のブルーアイズ・ホワイト・ドラゴン| romaji romaji_name = Senritsu no Burū Aizu Burūaizu Howaito Doragon| japanese translated ja_trans_name = The Terrifying Fearsome Blue-Eyes White Dragon| alternate series = Yu-Gi-Oh!| number = 1| season = 1| ja_air_date = 戦慄のブルーアイズ・ホワイトドラゴンApril 18, 2000<ref>[http{{cite web|url=https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/yugioh2000/story/001_010.html |title=''Yu-Gi-Oh 2000 story 001 to 010! Duel Monsters'' episodes|publisher=[[TV Tokyo]] {{icon|Japanese}}</ref>| japanese air en_air_date = September 29, 2001<ref>{{cite web |title=4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER AND NINE MONTH RESULTS |url=http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2001-1114.pdf |website=4Kids Entertainment |publisher=KCSA Publications Worldwide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051024044216/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2001-1114.pdf |archive-date = April 1824 October 2005 |location=New York, 2000NY | english air date = November 14, 2001 |quote=Yu-Gi-Oh!, 4Kids’ newest property, which debuted on September 2929th, 2001is also experiencing strong television ratings and a growing following on the official Yu-Gi-Oh! Site}}</ref>| japanese opening ja_opening = [[V O I C E]]| japanese ending ja_ending = [[Energizing Shower]]| english opening = [[Yu-Gi-Oh! Theme]]| english ending en_theme = Yu-Gi-Oh! Theme| screenwriter = [[Junki Takegami]]| director = [[Yukihiro Shino]]| storyboard artist storyboard_artist = [[Kunihisa Sugishima]]| animation director animation_director = [[Takahiro Kagami]]

"'''The Heart of the Cards'''", known as "'''The Terrifying Fearsome Blue-Eyes White Dragon'''" in Japan, is the first episode, and premiere, of the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (anime)|''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' anime]]. It is the first episode of the [[Duelist Kingdom (arc)|Duelist Kingdom]] arc. It first aired in Japan on April 18, 2000 and in the United States on September 29, 2001.

===Prologue===The A narrator explains how in Ancient Egypt, when the pyramids were young, ancient Kings played [[Shadow Game]]s, which erupted into a war that threatened to destroy the world. However a [[Pharaoh Atem|Pharaoh]] sealed the magic away, imprisoning it in the [[Millennium Items]]. 3000 years later (5000 in the dub), [[Yugi Muto]] unlocked the secrets of the [[Millennium Puzzle]] infusing him with ancient magical energies. Destiny has chosen Yugi to prevent the return of the Shadow Games, just like the Pharaoh did.

At [[Domino High School]], Yugi is teaching his friend, [[Joey Wheeler]], how to play ''Duel Monsters'', while [[Tristan Taylor]], [[Téa Gardner]] and [[Bakura Ryou]] watch. Tristan jokes that Joey looks cute when he is thinking. Joey shows Tristan the cards, explaining that they're playing ''Duel Monsters''. Tristan looks at him blankly and asks "Drooling Monsters?" Joey pushes him away and Téa says that they have been at it for hours; Joey's is starting to get the hang of it, but Yugi's is an expert. As Joey plays "[[Kagemusha of the Blue Flame (anime)|Kagemusha of the Blue Flame]]", Téa explains to Tristan that each [[Monster Card|monster]] has an [[ATK]] number and a [[DEF]] number and the first Duelist to eliminate their opponent's [[LP|Life Points]] wins the Duel.

As Joeyplays "[[Kagemusha of the Blue Flame (anime)|Kagemusha of the Blue Flame]]", Téa explains to Tristan that each [[Monster Card|monster]] has an [[ATK]] number and a [[DEF]] number and the first Duelist to eliminate their opponent's [[LP|Life Points]] wins the Duel. Joey is pleased with his move. Although , but although Yugi agrees it was good, he plays "[[Blackland Fire Dragon (anime)|Blackland Fire Dragon]]", which is powerful enough to defeat Joey. Tristan teases Joey's skill, but Yugi assures Joey that he played alright. Yugi just has better cards, he tells them, which is because his [[Solomon Muto|grandfather]] owns [[Kame GameStore|a game shop]], where he gets all his good cards. Joey gets fired up to visit the shop and Yugi talks about a [[Blue-Eyes White Dragon (anime)|super rare card]] his grandfather has.

A few tables across, [[Seto Kaiba|a brown-haired boy]] is reading ''[[wikipedia:Thus Spoke Zarathustra|Also Sprach Zarathustra]]''. (In the dub, the cover of the book is blank.) He overhears Yugi's conversation and wonders if the rare card is the one he has been searching for.

After school, Yugi and his friends, Joey, Tristan and Téa arrive at his grandfather's shop. He asks his grandfather if he could show them his rare card. Solomon thinks about it, laughs and says "how can I refuse?". He produces a decorative box and tells them that they are in for a treat and he does not usually take this card out. He holds up the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" card, telling them it is so rare and powerful that he never lets it leave his hands. The kids are impressed apart from Tristan, who grabs the card from Solomon's hand, remarking that he does not see anything special about it. Solomon snatches it back, insisting that the card is priceless; there are only four of them in the world. As Joey prepares to trade for other cards, Kaiba enters the shop. Solomon asks if he can help him and Kaiba says if he cannot, it would not surprise him. The kids are surprised to see him here, as he has a [[KaibaCorp|big company]] to run. Kaiba says he is here to see the card. Joey is glad to hear that Kaiba plays ''Duel Monsters'' too and suggests that they could all Duel together.

As Joey prepares to trade for other cards, the brown-haired boy enters the shop, carrying a [[Duralumin case|briefcase]]. Solomon asks if he can help him and they boy says if he cannot, it would not surprise him. The kids are surprised to see Seto Kaiba here, as he has a [[KaibaCorp|big company]] to run. Kaiba explains that he is here to see the card. Joey is glad to hear that Kaiba plays ''Duel Monsters'' too and suggests that they could all Duel together. Kaiba mocks the idea, saying he would have more of a challenge playing solitaire; he is the number 1 one ranked Duelist in the country and the favorite to win the ''Duel Monsters'' World Championship. Joey is intimidated and suggests they settle this with fists instead of cards. Yugi steps in between them and tries to calm Joey down.

Kaiba sees the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" on the table in its case. He rushes over to it, pushing Yugi aside. Solomon takes the card away and asks if there is anything else he can help him with. Kaiba slams his [[Duralumin case|briefcase]] on the counter and opens it, showing it is full of ''Duel Monsters'' cards. He offers to trade all of them for the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon". To everyone's surprise, Solomon declines. Kaiba then attempts to buy the card, asking Solomon to name his price, he can pay anything that he asks. Solomon refuses and explains that he does not want to give it away because it was given to him by a dear friend, so he treasures the card. Kaiba leaves, realizing it is useless trying to get it peacefully. {{clear}}

At the [[KaibaCorp]] building, Kaiba tells his employees that he wants them to pick up something at the game shop. The next morning, Kaiba's butler [[Hobson]] and two other goons arrive at the game shop. Hobson tells Solomon that his master, Seto Kaiba, challenges him to a Duel. He Solomon asks "And what would happen if he was to decline?"refuse, and Hobson says they must insist. Solomon thinks that Kaiba does not understand, but he will teach him a lesson about the Heart of the Cards. Yugi and his friends arrive to find his grandfather missing. Suddenly the phone rings and Yugi answers it only to find out that it was Kaiba, telling Yugi that his grandfather is not feeling well and needs picking up. (In the dub, the words "Now Printing" are removed from a box near the phone.)

Yugi and his friends make their way arrive to KaibaCorp where they find Solomon seriously injuredhis grandfather missing. Solomon tells Suddenly the phone rings and Yugi answers it only to find out that he failed; he had tried to teach it is Kaiba , telling Yugi that his grandfather is not feeling well and needs picking up. (In the dub, the words "Now Printing" are removed from a lesson about the Heart of box near the Cards but he lostphone.)

Yugi and his friends make their way to KaibaCorp where they find Solomon seriously injured. Solomon tells Yugi that he failed; he had tried to teach Kaiba a lesson about the Heart of the Cards but he lost. Kaiba appears in the room and says states that he defeated Solomon in a Duel, with each of them putting up their most valuable card as the prize. He guesses that playing against a champion like himself was too much stimulation for Yugi's grandfather. Téa accuses Kaiba of cheating, which he denies. (In the dub, she tells Kaiba he should be ashamed of himself; Kaiba calls the match fair.)

Solomon hands Yugi his Deck, saying that he put his soul in these cards and taught Yugi everything he knows. He instructs Yugi to take them and teach Kaiba respect for the Heart of the Cards. Yugi insists that he needs to take him to a doctor but Kaiba remarks that it sounds like an excuse. Yugi's friends offer to take Grandpa to the hospital, while Yugi faces Kaiba. Yugi is unsure, but the others offer support. Joey says "I reminds Yugi that he used to love fighting, but it was you Yugi who changed mehim, Yugi. You and he can do it." (In the dub, Joey says Yugi's is the best Duelist he has ever seen and he has the Millennium Puzzle. He knows Yugi can do it.)

Before Yugi leaves, Téa uses a marker to draw a smiley face [[symbol of friendship]] on everyone's hands. She says that even though the ink will wash away, they will always remember the circle of their friendship. (In the dub she says that when Yugi's is Dueling, he will know that he is not alone. They will all be right there with him.) As Téa, Tristan and Joey take Solomon to the ambulance, Téa suggests that Joey stay behind to support Yugi.

====The Duel====Kaiba takes Yugi to a virtual stadium. Kaiba says he designed the stadium himself and he thinks Yugi will agree that it will add a bit more life to the game. Kaiba says they'll will play using the Kaiba Special Rules. (In the dub he says that they each begin with 2000 Life Points and the first player to hit 0 loses.)

Yugi starts his turn and Summons "[[Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress (anime)|Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress]]". At this point, Joey arrives at the Duel and is shocked by the presence of the monsters. The two monsters get ready to battle and Yugi commands "Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress" to use its "Fireball" attack. "Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress" launches a fireball at "Hitotsu-Me Giant", [[destroy]]ing it and lowering Kaiba's Life Points to 1800. [[Mokuba Kaiba]] rushes into the room, asking his brother if he is okay, while Joey celebrates on Yugi taking out 1 one of Kaiba's monsters.

Yugi thinks Kaiba's is good, he knows every aspect of this game, but his Grandpa put all his gaming knowledge and his heart into this Deck so he must believe it holds some secret strategy. He draws "[[Right Leg of the Forbidden One (anime)|Right Leg of the Forbidden One]]". (This has [[Card Artworks:Right Leg of the Forbidden One|different artworks]] in the dub and Japanese versions.) Yugi thinks the card is useless as it cannot defeat "Saggi" so he [[Set]]s a monster card in [[Defense Position]] to protect his Life Points. Kaiba starts his turn and uses Saggi to attack and destroy Yugi's [[face-down]] monster which turns out to be "[[Sangan (anime)|Sangan]]". ("Sangan" did not have an effect at this point in the series.) Joey tells Yugi to hang in there as Kaiba continues to destroy more of his monsters, including "[[Battle Steer (anime)|Battle Steer]]" and "[[Torike (anime)|Torike]]".

Kaiba says he can practically hear starts his turn and uses Saggi to attack and destroy Yugi's grandpa's dying breath coming from those cards[[face-down]] monster which turns out to be "[[Sangan (anime)|Sangan]]". In the dub he says Joey tells Yugi's not doing any better than Solomon did; to hang in there as Kaiba continues to destroy more of his Deck is just as weak monsters, including "[[Battle Steer (anime)|Battle Steer]]" and feeble as his grandfather"[[Torike (anime)|Torike]]".

Kaiba says he can practically hear Yugi's grandpa's dying breath coming from those cards. (In the dub he says Yugi is not doing any better than Solomon did; his Deck is just as weak and feeble as his grandfather.) Yugi argues that his grandfather is a great man and a better Duelist than Kaiba will ever be. He can feel his heart in this Deck and doubts Kaiba has that kind of faith in his cards. Saying he believes in his grandfather's Deck, Yugi draws his next card. He tells Kaiba that his faith has rewarded him with "[[Gaia The Fierce Knight (anime)|Gaia The Fierce Knight]]".

Kaiba laughs that the Duel will be over sooner than Yugi thinks and draws a card. He Summons "Blue-Eyes White Dragon". Joey is surprised again and states that it is impossible; they saw Kaiba tear that card in half. Kaiba says Yugi's grandfather was not the only one to possess a "Blue-Eyes White Dragon". "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" attacks and destroys "Gaia The Fierce Knight", dropping Yugi's Life Points to 900. Kaiba says that, faith or no faith, Yugi will fall before his superior monsters; faith is for losers, like his grandfather.

Yugi thinks Kaiba's is right and looks at the cards in his [[hand]]: "[[Left Arm of the Forbidden One (anime)|Left Arm of the Forbidden One]]", "Right Leg of the Forbidden One", "[[Left Leg of the Forbidden One (anime)|Left Leg of the Forbidden One]]" and "Rude Kaiser". (The dub mistakenly shows the "[[Right Arm of the Forbidden One (anime)|Right Arm of the Forbidden One]]" instead of the "Left Arm". All "of the Forbidden One" cards have different artworks in the dub and Japanese versions.) He cannot figure out what to do with these cards; they are just pieces.

Kaiba recoils in horror, remarking protesting that it is impossible. Yugi places the five pieces on the field and a large star appears. (In the dub, the star has been given more points.) The complete "Exodia" emerges from the star. Kaiba steps back once again, calling it impossible, as no one has ever managed to call "Exodia" before. Yugi orders "Exodia" to "Obliterate". "Exodia" destroys Kaiba's dragons and drops his Life Points to 0. ====Aftermath====[[File:DMx001 Mind Crushed.jpg|thumb|left|Kaiba gets [[Mind Crush (Penalty Game)|Mind Crushed]].]]Joey cheers and Mokuba looks up in surprise, since his brother never loses. Yugi tells Kaiba that he plays only for power and that is why he lost but if you put your heart in the game, there is nothing you cannot do.

[[File:DMx001 Mind Crushed.jpg|thumb|left|Kaiba is [[Mind Crush (Penalty Game)|Mind Crushed]].]]Joey cheers and Mokuba looks up in surprise, protesting that his brother never loses. Yugi tells Kaiba that he plays only for power and that is why he lost but if you put your heart in the game, there is nothing you cannot do. Kaiba wonders how he could have lost. The [[Eye of Anubis]] appears on Yugi's forehead. as Yugi tells Kaiba that he will crush the evil in his heart and taps into the power of the Millennium Puzzle, granting Kaiba a "[[Mind Crush (Penalty Game)|Mind Crush]]". (In the dub, Yugi tells him if he wants to know to open his mind, he needs to do it; "Kaiba, if you truly want to know, open your mind!". ) Kaiba falls to his knees.

[[File:Yu-Gi-Oh_001_FinalOh 001 Final-scene.png|thumb|[[Maximillion Pegasus]] learns of Kaiba's defeat.]]Elsewhere [[Maximillion Pegasus]] is informed that the uncontested champion Seto Kaiba has been defeated by someone named Yugi. Pegasus smiles and his golden [[Millennium Eye|left eye]] flashes. 

The following cards appeared in this episode. Cards in italics debuted here.<!-- some may have actually premiered in the manga or first series Toei anime but if so, they're not tagged -->

* ''[[Bolt Escargot (anime)| Bolt Escargot]]''

* ''[[Millennium Golem (anime)|Millenium Millennium Golem]]''

* ''[[Polymerization (anime)|Polymerization]]''

* ''[[Beaver Warrior (anime)|Beaver Warrior]]''

This episode is based on various chapters from the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (manga)|manga]]. It combines Yugi's first 2 two encounters with Seto Kaiba but excludes many events, including the [[Death-T]] theme park.

{{See also|Yu-Gi-Oh! - Duel 009#Second seriesNAS anime}}

Kaiba invites Yugi to his mansion the night before the opening of his [[KaibaLand]] theme park. At the grand opening, he reveals he has kidnapped Yugi's grandfather and Duels him. They Duel using [[Battle Box]]es rather than the large [[Dueling Arena]]s. Sugoroku uses "Blue-Eyes White Dragon", but is overwhelmed by the holograms and Kaiba's 3 "Blue-Eyes White Dragons". Kaiba tears up Sugoroku's "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" and subjects him to an artificial [[Penalty Game]]. In order for him to be released, Yugi is coerced into swearing he will face Kaiba's Death-T. Like in the anime, Sugoroku gives Yugi his Deck to use against Kaiba.

After Death-T 3, Yugi admits to thinking there is another Yugi to his friends. He does not disclose this until much later after his second Duel with Kaiba in the anime.

* "Saggi" destroyed the unnamed monsters mentioned above and two other unnamed monsters. In the anime, these were replaced with "[[Battle Steer (anime)|Battle Steer]]" and "[[Torike (anime)|TroikeTorike]]".* Yugi also lost 200 Life Points during this point through unknown means. He does not in the anime.* While Kaiba's two "Blue-Eyes White Dragons" were unable to attack, due to "[[Swords of Revealing Light (anime)|Swords of Revealing Light]]", Kaiba played an unnamed monster in Defense Mode.

* In the English dub, [[Téa Gardner|Téa]] mentions that [[Joey Wheeler|Joey]] and [[Yugi Muto|Yugi]] have been playing ''Duel Monsters'' for hours and that she thinks Yugi is an expert at the game. In the Japanese version she explains some more of the rules of the game.* The book Kaiba is reading near the beginning of the episode is ''[[wikipedia:Thus Spoke Zarathustra|Also sprach Zarathustra]]'' in the Japanese version (though it spells sprach as spracha). In the English versiondub, the book's cover is blank.* In the Japanese version, Kaiba is identified as the son of the President of Kaibacorp. However, later episodes reveal that Kaiba had taken over the company long before the events of this episode. The English Dub removes this error by replacing the line with a statement that Kaiba "has a big company to run".* In the dub, the bottom row of cards in [[Duralumin case|Kaiba's briefcase]] are shifted one card to the left, bringing "Anthrosaurus" into view.

* In the Japanese version, Kaiba reveals clarifies that he ripped up the fourth "[[Blue Eyes White Dragon (anime)|Blue Eyes White Dragon]]" card because only three are allowed in a single person's Deck.* When Joey is encouraging Yugi to Duel Kaiba, in the English dub he tells him he is the best Duelist he has ever seen while in the Japanese version, he reminds Yugi that he was the one who helped him turn his life around (a reference to the manga).* The "[[Negative Energy Generator]]" card has a different design in the English dub. In the Japanese version it depicts an eye while in the English version dub it depicts the letter E.*The pentagram that "[[Exodia]]" emerges from has more points in the English version dub to remove religious connotations.